Growing Apples

Apples are the most common fruit grown. There are so many different varieties that wherever you live, there will be a variety suitable to grow.

They can be grown in different ways to suit different conditions, from full size trees to cordons.

Most modern varieties are grafted onto rootstocks and will start to produce fruit in their second year and will often produce fruit for 30 years. The 3 main rootstocks in use are M106, this is the standard rootstock and is used for all trees except dwarf pyramids and cordons, M9 is a dwarfing rootstock used for cordons and dwarf pyramids and M27, a very dwarfing rootstock that is used for small trees suitable for tubs and for stepover trees. The trees can be trained as standards, bush trees, dwarf pyramids, fans, espaliers, cordons, stepovers and festoons.

Some of the varieties to choose from: -

Early Flowering Desert Apples

Discovery, James Grieve, Jupiter, Spartan.

Late Flowering Desert Apples

Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Suntan, Granny Smith.

Early Flowering Cooking Apples

Bramley's Seedling, Grenadier.

Late Flowering Cooking Apples

Howgate Wonder, Lanes Prince Albert.

Soil Conditions and Siting

Apples will grow in most soils. The pH of the soil should be between 6.0 and 6.5. A sunny, sheltered site is preferred.

Planting

Plant bare-rooted trees during their dormancy in winter. Container grown trees can be planted all year round.

Maintenance

Feeding

Plants up to fruiting age should be fed in early spring with a general fertiliser such as blood, fish and bone to encourage growth. Once they reach fruiting age, mulch annually with well rotted farmyard manure.

Pruning

Prune free standing trees in spring by removing any dead or diseased wood, any branches that cross over each other and that could cause damage by rubbing and any overcrowded branches.

Fans and other shapes will require pruning each year. (See section on Pruning)

Protection

Protect the flowers from frost in the early part of the year.

Harvesting

Early varieties will be ready in midsummer while later varieties are ready in autumn.

The fruit is ripe when it lifts off the tree easily by cupping in your hand and gently lifting with a slight twisting motion. Always handle gently as the fruits bruise very easily.

Fruits can be stored in polythene bags or in boxes in a frost-free place. (See storage section in general details for more info on storage)

Pests and Diseases

General problems include Greenfly and Mildew but Winter Moths, Woolly Aphids, Codling Moth, Fireblight, Sawfly, Canker, Bitter Pit, Brown Rot and Scab can also affect them. (See the pests and diseases sections for prevention's and cures).